What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda: Balancing Doshas

"Ayurveda," meaning the science and wisdom of life, is a comprehensive system of health and well-being, born in India over 10,000 years ago. Ayurveda covers practices such as yoga, meditation and natural medicine, all of which work together to create balance and health in body, mind and spirit. Ayurveda understands and treats discomfort and disease by understanding the imbalances in our constitutions, which, in Ayurveda, are comprised of three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Derived from the elements, our doshas are the three biological energies that govern our physical and mental processes. Vata is associated with wind and air; Pitta with fire; and Kapha with the solidity of earth and water. We are all born in a perfect balance, but when any of our doshas slip out of balance, we begin to feel uneasy, and that unease, unless dealt with, will ultimately manifest as disease. Luckily, according to the ancient principals of Ayurveda, each person's doshas can be easily rebalanced, and health and wellbeing can be restored.

Surya helps rebalance with traditional therapies and diet modifications, and allows guest to find lasting relief from issues such as excess weight, skin problems, poor digestion, restlessness, lethargy, and even more serious conditions such as Lyme’s Disease, Lupus, neurological and psychological disorders, and chronic gastrointestinal issues. However, Ayurveda is for everyone, and is extremely beneficial as general detox or seasonal preventative practice to treat imbalances before symptoms arise. One always feels remarkably energized and clear after a seasonal cleanse.

Ayurveda began with the Tamil Siddhas of Southern India, who sought a path to promote longevity. Today, Ayurveda's value and efficacy has never been more relevant. While Western medicine is valuable, and lifesaving, Western medicine tends to treat symptoms in an attempt eradicate them. Ayurveda seeks to discover the root of the disturbance that has given rise to the symptom, understanding that any symptom is a manifestation of a core imbalance. For example, a Western doctor might treat a rash on one’s arm with the application of a steroid cream. When the rash disappears, the doctor and patient consider the problem solved. However, in Ayurveda, the core imbalance is diagnosed, and that imbalance is treated with herbs, diet and a range of therapies, all of which are profound, restorative and healing, in a lasting way. When the fire of an aggravated Pitta is cooled, or the sluggishness of Kapha is stirred and activated, or the overstimulation of Vata is calmed, discomforting symptoms and associated disease naturally vanish, and, more importantly, so do their underlying causes.